Weeks away, time with family

Summer

Summer is at its end, fall is arriving,

and I have been gone almost a month!

I can't believe it, 

that my traveling to family and tending a grand

child has come to a close.

I am ready to be home, look out over the balcony

of my bedroom that looks over our back yard.

The comfort of the pond and all the gold and 

silver fish that live inside its waters.

The fresh cut lawn, and as I arrive home, 

the grapes, plums, peaches and nectarines are

waiting for my hands to put them in

jars or cut them for the freezer.

I love making magic with the fruit growing
in my yard, as I preserve them for winter.

My last month has been filled with hiking Montana
forests with 5 beautiful grandchildren and
their parents and the love of my life.

We have found blue "berries" which are called Oregon
grapes, the kids and I picked a bucket of them and
made jelly.

My most magical moment was, as we were looking for
more blue "berries", I found a mushroom!
Close to the ground, hiding under the grass and twigs
I realized this is real!

Yes! In the forest are mushrooms galore in Montana!
Who knew?  Certainly not me.  But I am in love
with mushrooms and recently learned how to
watercolor them, so I was in heaven.

The kids too were obsessed with finding  me more mushrooms.
To bad I am a slow painter!

I take first mushroom and draw it on watercolor paper
and start the magical process of replicating it
just as it looks in real.  This is quite a process that I have
learned and it takes patience and time.

I have spent the last two years learning the magic of
watercolors and making a real live item look
exactly like it does as you touch it in person.
Duplicating the flower or fruit or veggie.
It is so magical to me, as I have looked at botanical's
and am so intrigued by how to create such a real life
item on paper.

It brings joy to my soul to accomplish this amazing
task.

A few weeks later as we were hiking again around a lake
we found many species of mushrooms, the kids calling me
"Grandma"  Come look at this one!
We spent hours searching and finding mushrooms!
We picked the different species and put them in a bag.
First in my pocket, then in a bag, for me to paint later.

Our main objective that day was to find huckleberries,
which we did only to realize none of us had
brought a thing to put them in - So off
came Dana and Jacobs hats and we started filling them with
our newly found huckleberries, still looking for mushrooms
along the way.

I was farther off from everyone as our young grandson Caleb
saw me with my hands full of huckleberries, trying to pick
more and no place to put them - off came his hat
and another container was created to fill with berries.
Here grandma-you can use mine.
Mushrooms too of course went in his hat.

Oh the magic of the day as we laughed, hiked, and
journeyed down the wooded path and around
the lake finding magic in everything we looked at.

Small mushrooms clustered together, curled like lace
Large mushrooms with flat tops
Mushrooms with reddish tops and one that
took my breath away with white dots on
top of the red cap.
Small tiny mushrooms
Mushrooms with a teeny tiny cap
And one that looked like BB8!

Oh the joy in the journey!
The joy in the moment.
The time together.
The love kindled in the days spent in the
mountains of Montana.
Grandchildren
Laughter
Excitement

Pure Joy!

I flew from Montana to California
after 2 weeks with these adorable children.
(not sure if mom and dad would describe them as such
but I do)

Two opposite lives
Two very different ways of living.
I went from living off the grid in Montana
to
Car filled streets of California.
The hustle and bustle of life.
From here to there
from there to here
As Dr. Seuss says.

From the hush of the Montana sky and
the northern lights
and milky way 
to the view of the valley of
Southern California
all filled with the twinkling lights.
Oh the view of the lights!
From five very active grandchildren
to just one very active grandson.
From the beautiful blue lakes of Montana
to the lounging around the pool in the
backyard of a very ------- yard.
Splashing, laughing, singing, loving.

My days were filled with Jack,
shopping and the temple.

When Katie, the nanny, was off, Jack and I
read, ate dinner, bathed or swan in the hot tub til
it was time for bed.

We would wake up early,
Jack is an early riser, 5 am most days,
and play with the newly rescued kitties,
make breakfast, pack lunch -
peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese-
I would ask-
and then get ready for school.
Drive to school.
The first day I drove him to school,
Jack was amazed I knew the way there.
Sign him in at school
and the day was my own until school was out.
6 hours
Temple, shopping, reading, painting.
This became my routine while mom and
dad were off to Portugal for vacation with friends.

I love my alone time with Jack
Every year we spend a week together while
mom and dad are on vacation.
I live thousands of miles away,
so this connect time with Jack is very
special to me.
Just as it is with the Montana kids who live
virtually almost the exact amount of miles away
just in the opposite direction.

Oh, yes I am glad to be on my way back home.
But this times spent with these wonderful
families is pure joy to me.

I love that we have time together,
I love that we bond.
I love that we are able to show our love for
each other in these weeks of time together.

Home again.
As I look out over the balcony of my bedroom to the
mountains of Utah, I know that my time
away was so special, but it is nice
to be home again with Dana.

Easter Visit

Grandkids came this weekend to spend Easter with

us, but also to pick up vehicles we have been storing in our

back, back yard.  I counted all of his vehicles and 

a trailer and it added up to 15.

Well, good thing we live on 3/4 of an acre of property,

and the nice part of the yard is fenced so you cannot see 

all of this fun stuff! 

4 vehicles have left the yard as of Sunday!

Progress.

But the crowning part of the weekend were the grand

children.  All of their excitement just to come to

grandma's house, and Easter was a bonus as well.

We did projects.

Each one of the grand kids made a treasure box.

Grandpa made each of them a wooden box with a lid.

We pulled out the paper, scissors, glue.

Covered our boxes with what treasures the kids liked.

Each one of them having quite a different personality.

Did I take pictures of any of this?

I'm so out of practice for sure when photo's should be

taken!  Then we colored eggs.   The kids just having so much

fun, some eggs have lots of layers of colors!

And I got to just enjoy the day with them.

Watching.

Loving.

Enjoying

This is where my joy comes on these days.

After everyone left, the house seemed so quiet.

Dana left too, they gave him a ride to SL 

to get on a plane and help our son in Georgia move.

Packing the trucks and trailers.

And now driving, driving, driving.

I didn't go in the craft room on Sunday.

I just spent the day, relaxing after all the noise of 5

grandchildren had dissipated into thin air.

But on Monday, I found a note from one of the grands

on my table, thanking me for all the things we

did, and impressed that I never got mad the whole 

weekend!  Funny, hard to get mad at such 

cute kids.  We just had fun.

We just enjoyed life.  

Thanks for coming!

Gma

Jack

Jack is one of my grandsons.

He is one of three born in the same year,

and the youngest of all my grandchildren.

He lives a few states away, and so we spend time on Facetime

when we talk.  Just the other day he and his Nanny called

and we had quite the talk.

"Grandma!  It's just crazy!"

"What is crazy?" I asked.

"Cruz!  He was in the refrigerator! 

"How did he get there?"  I commented.  Cruz is one of his cars.

"I don't know!  It's just crazy!"

This conversation went on for a while about Cruz.  

He didn't even give me a chance to say "hello" when I opened

Facetime and saw his cute little face.

Four year olds have quite an imagination, but then again

Cruz was in the fridge sitting on the cheese.

He was so exact on what had been going on with his little matchbox

size car.  He just talked and talked telling me the all the places he has

found his car.  Katie, his Nanny, has hidden it in many different places over

the last few days, and it has been quite a game for Jack to

find the next place where Cruz might be.

There is no greater joy for me when I get calls from these wonderful

little spirits and tell me the fun things that are going on in their lives.  I just

smile as I walk around the day after a conversation like this.

Jack isn't the only one that calls.  The other grandchildren call too.

Some, just to say good night to me, just so it will be one 

minute longer before they have to crawl into bed for the night.

Pure Joy!

Pure Joy!

I hope you too find pure joy in the little moments in your lives.

This one could happen every day and I would never get tired of it.

Have a great day!

Robin 

The Book of Mormon - Lesson 13 - Christ's Week of Awe

Lesson 13

The Book of Mormon

Another Testament of Christ

Ministry of Jesus to the Nephite Nation

3 Nephi:11-28

         Jesus continues to love the people whom He knew in the preexistence.  He stood in the great council and offered Himself for the children of God.  Now as the Book of Mormon has been revealed and translated for us in our day, we again have another witness of Jesus Christ, another book that verifies that He lives, that He is the Christ, the Son of God, who came to this earth and sacrificed Himself for the children of God by taking upon Himself the sins of the world, giving us the atonement of His blood.  The Book of Mormon is another witness of Christ, that the world may know His work, His sacrifice, His love for all mankind.

         Through out the entire Book of Mormon there are teachings that come directly from the Savior of the World.  He teaches Nephi, Alma, Ammon, Jacob, Moroni, and many other prophets His word.  These prophets are commanded to teach these words to the people. The Book of Mormon is filled with teachings of Jesus Christ, His word, His light, His love.  As you read the Book of Mormon, you learn these things about our Lord and Savior and within its pages it tells us that  “we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts....for this intent we have written these things, that they may know that we know of Christ.” (Jacob 4:4)

            During our travels we have visited many countries, one of which is France.  In the city of Paris,  you can climb  the steps to the Butte Montmartre, and there are a lot of steps, you come to

a spectacular church, The Sacred Heart Basilica, know in Paris as Sacre-Coeur.  There are some different things about this church that touched me as we visited.  The outside of Sacre-Coeur is made of a white stone.  This is a special type of stone that when it rains, it beaches white.  Thus represents the purity of our risen Lord, the inside of the church throughout it are pictures of the Jesus risen from the dead.  I don't exactly remember if there are some crucifixion pictures, but what stood out to me the most was all of the pictures of the risen Lord.  I love that the emphasis is on the ascension of the Savior as opposed to His death.  This risen Son of God is He who visits the Nephites in the 3^rd book of Nephi.

            In the 3^rd book of Nephi in the Book of Mormon, Jesus comes and visits the Nephite people.  They have been a wicked and adulterous generation, and have been warned over and over to repent and come unto Christ.  It is prophesied that the Savior will come and visit the righteous people.  But it is difficult for the people to be obedient, and many fall away from the teaching of the prophets of Jesus Christ.  In chapter 11 of 3^rd Nephi, He comes after a great destruction of the land, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, tumultuous days, and many days of complete darkness.  The Savior comes to visit the people of the Nephite land. 

            He shows Himself to them, His hands and His feet, and tells them, “I am Jesus Christ the Son of God.  I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.  I was with the Father from the beginning.  I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.  I came unto my own, and my own received me not.  And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.  And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.  I am the light and the life of the world.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” (3 Nephi 9: 15-18)

            John 10:16 tells us “ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”  In the Book of Mormon Jesus tells the Nephites that they are that fold: “And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold....And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles... But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.” (3 Nephi 15: 21-24)

            “Then 'in the ending' of that year” (thirty and fourth year, 3 Nephi 8) “(3 Nephi 10:18-19), several months after the Ascension on Olivet, Jesus ministered personally among the Nephites for many hours on many days.  He came as a ”Man descending out of heaven”; introduced himself as the God of Israel; permitted the multitude to feel the prints of the nails in his hands and feet and to thrust their hands into his side; called a quorum of twelve; gave them keys and powers and authorities; healed the Nephite sick and introduced the sacramental ordinance in the Western Hemisphere; taught the people in plainness and with excellence surpassing much that was done in his Palestinian ministry; gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost; and ascended to his Father.”( McConkie, B.4, p. 307)

            What an amazing work He did and shared with the Nephite people.  They enveloped Him with loving hearts, and believed.  He blessed their children and was encircled with fire as the angels ministered to them.  He prays for the Nephite people and wept because His joy was full, and blessed them because of their faith. He asked for the people to return to their homes, and He would ascend to His father, “And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and behold they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.” (3 Nephi 17:5)  Oh how they loved Him!!  He did stay with them a little longer.

            The Book of Mormon is filled with His teachings, 3^rd Nephi is filled with His ministry to the Nephite people, His love for them, and their love for Him.  In a Sunday School class I attended in high school, I remember the teacher asking us what was our favorite book in the Book of Mormon.  At that time, I had not determined what that book was for me.  One of my closest friends shared her love for 3^rd Nephi and why.  It touched me to the heart, and I knew I must study that book and find out why she loved it so much.  Today, I can testify, that Jesus is my Savior, your Savior, the Son of the living God, who loves us.  He came to this earth to live, and to die for each and every one of us.  He came to atone for our sins, so that through His grace we can live with Him and our Father again. 

            Elder Jeffrey Holland gave a powerful address in October 2009 on The Book of Mormon.  He called it our “Safety for the Soul.”  He testifies that it is “One of the Lord's most powerful keystones” of our religion.  He continues “I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord, Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies... I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world... that the Book of Mormon is true.” (Holland, Safety for the Soul, General Conference, October 2009)

            President Monson in his last conference address in April 2017 gave us a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

            “This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teaching in our lives.  The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

            We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness.  What will protect us from the sin and

 evil so prevalent in the world today?  I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety.  If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so.  If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you.  If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

            Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children....

            My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.  As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven's help in our lives.  I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. (Monson, “The Power of the Book of Mormon.”  General Conference, April 2017)

            This brings us back to the introduction of this study.  As a young seventeen year old girl reading the Book of Mormon and finishing my reading on the eve of Easter morning,  how God testified to me the truth of this testament of Jesus Christ.  This book has made me who I am today, what I believe as truth, and why I believe in Jesus Christ and His resurrection.  I love this book!

            It isn't hard to say the Book of Mormon is my favorite book of all time.  It has literally changed me, especially when during one of my many readings of the book, I marked in blue anything that had to do with Jesus Christ.  What an amazing journey it took me on, and it is enlightening to notice how many times Jesus is referred to, quoted, and as well as His ministry on the western hemisphere.  This is quite a journey, to get to know this very Messiah, the Prince of

Peace by reading the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon

Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Prepare

Read from the Book of Mormon every day

Share your love for the Book of Mormon and why.

Share the events that took place in 3^rd Nephi.

What did he do while he visited the Nephites?

What is your testimony of this great book?

Remembering

Place a copy of the Book of Mormon out for all to see.

Read the Book of Mormon as a family.

Make the Book of Mormon a part of your personal

daily study, a commitment for every day of your life.

Each time you read the Book of Mormon, challenge  yourself

to find a new way to read it, such as marking scriptures that

pertain to just one topic, or several topics,

or mark only the scriptures or words that pertain

only to Jesus Christ.

Act of Service

Challenge yourself to share the Book of Mormon with

someone.  Sometimes this is one of the hardest

thing we will ever do in our lives.  But the miracles that

happen after you have done this will be beyond measure

because of this great act of service you have done, to share

the truth with others, testifying that you know

Jesus is the Christ.

40 Day Ministry - Lesson 12 - Christ's Week of Awe

Lesson 12

 40 Day Ministry

John 21:1-24

Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16: 15-18

         What a week!  Can you believe all that has taken place during this last week of Jesus' life?  We have walked with Him to Jerusalem, and watched Him perform miracles, listened to His doctrine in the temple, watched the Sanhedrin conspire against Him and eventually crucify Him.  We have been with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the trials, on the cross at Calvary, in the Garden Tomb, and now He is Risen! 

            Jesus now spends 40 days on the earth teaching His disciples more of His doctrine.  There was so much more He needed to share with them before going to other parts of the world to show Himself to others.

            We have been told as disciples that Jesus will meet us in Galilee.  How long will it take Him to come?  There are things we need to do, and it must be time to just get on with our own lives.  Jesus has lived His life and is now gone.  We do however, know He is resurrected and lives again.  How long should we wait for Him. Is He really going to come to Galilee? 

            Peter announces that he is going fishing. Let's go fishing too; we aren't doing anything else.  Fishing is a good business for those who live in Galilee and feeds many in the area.  “Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was a well-organized enterprise among the families represented by the apostles who were with Peter. Peter and Andrew, brothers, worked in a partnership with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and they supervised hired hands (Luke 5:7-10; Mark 1:20).  They owned their own boats (Luke 5:11), and thus it wasn't hard for them to find a vessel to go fishing in.” (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 173)

            Peter does just this; he goes fishing.  With him go six other disciples.  They fish all night, as was the custom on the Sea of Galilee, and caught nothing.  As morning came, they were discouraged about their catch.  They saw a man standing on the shore who asked them about the catch of the night.  They did not recognize that it was Jesus.  He said to them, “Children have ye any meat?” They answered him, “No.” (John 21:5)  Then the man on the shore told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and “Ye shall find.”  They did just that, cast their net on the right side, and the catch was so great they could not pull in the net.  Could this be?  Have these apostles experienced this before?  Three of them had, and they looked up, and John told the others, because he first recognized him, “It is the Lord.” Peter then so excited he could not contain himself, or wait for the boat to come to shore, jumped in the water and was the first to make it to shore where the Savior stood.  The others came, dragging the net of fish behind the boat to the shore.  (John 21:1-8)

         “As soon as then they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

            Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

            Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and an hundred and fifty three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

         Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.  And none of the disciples durst ask him, who art thou?  Knowing that it was the Lord.

            Jesus then cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

            This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” (John 21: 9-14)

            Jesus is on the shores of the Galilee and serving his disciples by taking care of their temporal needs.  He has a fire burning to fulfill the need of warmth, fish on the fire to fulfill the need of hunger, and a warm place to sit and rest to fulfill the need of rest from working all night and the tired aching bodies they were now feeling.  Jesus, the Lord of Lords, Master of all, who had just descended below all, who had given all for the world, was now serving the disciples.  The example of all examples to us today.  “He had already performed the most significant and profound act of  service in the history of Creation: the Atonement.  He had already opened the door to an eternity's worth of possibilities for the whole human family, and yet he wanted to make dinner, to make his disciples happy, because they were cold and tired and hungry!  It was not beneath his dignity to care for their personal needs, to warm them and make them feel comfortable and valued. He truly modeled what he taught; he who was the greatest made himself to be the least and the servant of all (Matthew 23:11).”  (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 175-176)

            “When they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?  He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)  And a second time and a third time Jesus asked Peter the same question, and Peter answered the same three times.  “Having shown by his actions the way of perfect servant-leadership, Jesus was ready to teach with words.  In this atmosphere of total service, and against the backdrop of his personal example of selfless concern for others, Jesus instructed the chief apostle, Peter, as to what he must to do for the rest of his life.  Using the draft of fish as the object lesson, fish he had helped Peter catch, Jesus taught Peter that he was to leave fishing, leave economic pursuits, and feed the Savior's sheep just as the Savior had fed him that morning (John 21:9-17).  Jesus would take care of Peter as he had that morning, but Peter was to take care of the Church. (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p.176)

            Jesus prophesies of Peter's martyrdom, and of John's ministry till the Savior comes again.  Jesus then tells Peter “Follow me,” which we know today that Peter did, and lead the church.

            After Jesus had appeared to the eleven disciples at the Sea of Galilee, He also appeared to many disciples on “a mountain where Jesus had appointed them” in Galilee. (Matthew 28:16)  “There the Savior met with these brethren and gave them important instructions regarding their divine commission to lead the kingdom after he was gone.... Elder McConkie also writes that this “is likely the occasion of which, as Paul wrote later, 'he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.' (1 Cor. 15:6) If so, the seventies and leading brethren of the Church would have been present, as also perhaps the faithful women who are inheritors of like rewards with obedient priesthood holders” (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:866)

            “To his special witness, Jesus explained the all-encompassing authority and power he possessed but was now delegating to them and expecting them to uphold” “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” he said. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

            With the convening of this mountain conference in Galilee, the Savior had now given the great missionary charge to his earthly leaders.  By this point he had appeared several times to his apostles and disciples to confirm his living reality.  This was the essence of his forty-day mission.  The foundation was firmly in place.  Many had come to know the resurrection was real, and this gave them the strength to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and preach it to others.  Because the ancient disciples knew with certainty that Jesus was the Christ, that he had in reality come back to life, that the promises of resurrection and eternal life were unequivocally true, they could face anything—and many did. 

            This conviction of the reality of the resurrection is alive and well in our day; it is the linchpin of our faith. With glad hearts Latter-day Saints proclaim the good news: Jesus is alive today and resides in yonder heavens with his divine Father, who is also a glorified man of flesh and bone and who has promised each of us that we can join them and be like them if we commit our lives to them.  It is up to us.”  (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 179-181)

            Andrew Skinner also spends an entire chapter in his book The Garden Tomb on how the Savior taught about the temple during his 40 day ministry and how this relates to us today.  It is well worth the read. 

            The Savior's 40 day ministry has come to a close, “And he led them as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51)  While they were there, and before he was taken up, He gave final instructions, “Luke records that Jesus commanded the apostles to remain in Jerusalem until the promised arrival of and immersion in the powers of the Holy Ghost were realized (Acts 1:4-5).... As the apostles contemplated these instructions, as well as their future, Jesus ascended in a cloud of glory and was gone.  But two angelic witnesses appeared and provided important commentary on this experience, which is also for all disciples of this dispensation.  Jesus' ascension is a model for his glorious second coming.  He will descend from his heavenly throne to appear on the Mount of Olives and reign on the earth as King of Israel, King of Kings.  Thus, Jesus' ascension brings us back full circle to the beginning of  his atoning experience, forty-three days earlier, and propels us forward to the start of a new era.  'The Mount of Olives, 'the olive-orchard'--hallowed spot!  On this Mount is the Garden called Gethsemane where Jesus in agony took upon himself the sins of the world... here he now ascends in triumphant glory; and here he shall in that same glory to begin his reign as Israel’s King. (D.&C. 133:19-20).” (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 2:28) (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 196-197)

40 Day Ministry

Prepare

John 21: 1-24

Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16: 15-18

Summarize the last week of the Savior's life.

Ask questions and have your family tell you what happened.

What have they learned, and how has it affected them?

Now the Savior is appearing after His resurrection to give instruction

on how to keep the church going.  What does He tell them, and how does

what He tells them relate to us today?  How many missionaries do

we have in the world today teaching His word?

What can we do today to act on the Savior's last message to

the disciples during His 40 day ministry?

Remembering

Place a temple picture or a temple statue out.

Next to the temple put a missionary tag.

This is to remind us of our commitment to teach His word.

(This was His last request of the disciples in time

of old, but it also applies to us today.)

A photo of Jesus with a lamb around His shoulders

or in His arms is a great example of the 40 day

ministry and that He taught by example.

Act of Service

What act of service can you do that represents the

40 day ministry?  What did Jesus do for His disciples after they

came to the shore with the catch of fish?  What did He teach

them after He fed them?  Were they cold, and tired, and hungry?

And then what did He ask of Peter?

How does this apply to us today?

Feed my sheep.

He is Risen - Lesson 11 - Christ's Week of Awe

Lesson 11

He is Risen

            Christ is risen and he as appeared to Mary at The Garden Tomb.  He has also appeared to the “certain women” whom He let touch Him. This happened while they were on their way to tell the disciples.  Imagine if you were standing just a ways off, and watched Jesus appear to these women, what a glorious event this is to behold!  It is still the same day that the rock was rolled from the tomb and discovered that Jesus is not there.  He is not here, for He is risen.

Jesus Appears to Peter 

(Luke 24:34)

            Jesus' third appearance was to Simon Peter.  “We do not know where or under what circumstances he came, or what words of comfort and council and direction he gave.” “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon” (Luke 24:34)

            “It must needs be that he appear to Peter—to Peter the rock; to Peter the seer; to Peter the chief apostle; to Peter to whom he has already given the keys of his earthly kingdom. Peter must now step forward and preside and govern during the absence of his Lord.  He is the senior apostle of  God on earth.” (McConkie, B.4, 272)

            To have been in Peter's shoes, to have Jesus, his Lord and Savior come and appear to him, letting him know what his calling is, talking to Peter and loving Peter even though he succumbed to denying that he knew Jesus.  What a great love the Savior had for the senior apostle.

Jesus Appears to Cleopas and Luke 

(Luke 24:13-32; Mark 16:12-13)

            Bruce R. McConkie says the second person with Cleopas who is named in the verse

below is Luke, making this a first person account. (McConkie, B.4, 275)

            “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

         And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

         But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

         And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

         And he said unto them, What things?  And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

         And how the chief priests and rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

         But we trusted that it has been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

         Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

         And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

         And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

         Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have

spoken.

         Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

         And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

         And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

         But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

         And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

         An their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

         And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened the scriptures?

         And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem. (Luke 24: 13-32)

            The scriptural account of what happened on the road to Emmaus is very clear.  The Savior appeared to them as a stranger walking with them, taught them of the prophesies of Himself, went to their home and broke bread and ate with them and then, they recognized Him.  What did they do?  They immediately journeyed back to Jerusalem to tell the other apostles.

Jesus Appears in the Upper Room

(Luke 24:33-49, Mark 16:14, John 20: 19-23)

            In the upper room, possibly the same upper room where Jesus and the twelve ate the passover meal together, there were assembled a large group of disciples.  The apostles were present except for Thomas.  “Certainly it was not a meeting for men only.  Many faithful women were there and possibly even children.  The whole group was eating an evening meal and, in effect, holding a testimony meeting as they ate. What each has seen and heard and knew of that day's happenings was recited and particularly the account of the appearance of the Lord to Peter.  No doubt the Chief Apostle told them freely all that had transpired on that holy occasion.” (McConkie, B.4, 278)

            While this is taking place, the two disciples Cleopas and Luke arrive after they have traveled back from Emmaus.  The testimony meeting is going on “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” (Luke 24:34)  And then they too embrace the testimony meeting and share their story of Jesus appearing to them and teaching them of the prophesies, and they testify they too had walked and talked and eaten with Him.

            At this moment in time the Savior Himself appears in the upper room. “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” (Luke 24:34-36)

            He showed His hands and His feet, they were able to touch those marks.  And He again prophesies. And then He eats with them!

            “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me,

         Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

         And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And, ye are witnesses of these things.”  (Luke 24:44-48)

            Can you imagine what it would have been like to be in that upper room, the Savior letting you touch His hands and His feet.  Testifying to you, and calling you a witness of Him?   Men, women, and children were there!

Jesus Appears to Thomas and the Disciples

(John 20:24-29)

            It is Sunday.  A week has now transpired since the resurrection of Jesus.  Thomas has heard the words of the other apostles and disciples of the appearances of Jesus.  But he still does not believe.  “Except I shall see in his hands the prints of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

Now the apostles are together again. “Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord my God. 

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”  (John 20:26-29)

Here He is, Risen!

Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, is Risen! 

For us He took upon Him all the sins of the world, so that we too could live with Him and the Father again, after we have finished our work here on the earth. 

Risen!!!!

            Let's go back to our story The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  Susan and Lucy are left alone after watching the witch sacrifice Aslan, the Lion.  They are beyond consoling, walking from one area around the Lion, to the edge of the field and back.  They take the muzzle off his mouth and want to untie the cords around his legs, but they are so tight that they cannot. Miraculously, mice appear and gnaw off the ties on his legs.  They then are away from his body grieving, and hear a great crack.  They hurry back to where Aslan was lying dead on the big stone table and find him gone and the stone table broken. 

 “Oh, oh, oh!” cried the two girls, rushing back to the Table.

“Oh, it's too bad,” sobbed Lucy, “they might have left the body alone.

 “Who's done it?” cried Susan.  “What does it mean?  Is it magic?”

“Yes!” said a great voice behind their backs.  “It is more magic.”  They looked around.  There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane (for it had apparently grown again) stood Aslan himself.

“Oh, Aslan!” cried both the glad children, staring up at him, almost as much frightened as they were glad.

“Aren't you dead then, dear Aslan?” said Lucy.

“Not now,” said Aslan.

 “You're not—not a---?” asked Susan in a shaky voice.  She couldn't bring herself to say ghost.  Aslan stooped his golden head and licked her forehead.  The warmth of his breath and a rich sort of smell that seemed to hang about his hair came all over her.

 “Do I look it?” he said.

“Oh, you're real, you're real! Oh, Aslan!” cried Lucy, and both girls flung themselves upon him      and covered him with kisses.

 “But what does it all mean?” asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.

“It means,” said Aslan, “that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know.  Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time.  But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation.  She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.”  (C.S. Lewis, p. 184-185)

            Yes, Jesus Christ was that willing victim who was put to death for our sins, and through His grace-- it is quite magical as in this story,  we can live with Him and His Father, our Father, again.  He came back restored, except for the nail prints in his hands and feet and scar in His side, a living being.  We too will be able to come back completely restored. Our wounds, scars, imperfections, and deformities will be taken away.  Alma testified saying: “The soul shall be restored to the body; and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.” (Alma 40:23)

            Skinner writes, “The Book of Mormon is our greatest testament of the doctrine of the resurrection and the restoration that it brings about.  The prophets of the Book of Mormon generally speak of three types of restoration that the resurrection is responsible for:  the restoration of the spirit to the body; the restoration of all people to the presence of God to be judged; and the restoration of our individual memories.  Nothing can compare to the power of the resurrection and the changes enacted by it, and nobody summarized this truth better than Amulek:

            'Behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

            Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.

            The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

            Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of the head be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

            Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption'.” (Alma 11:41-45) (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, pg 159-161)

He is Risen

Prepare

Luke 24:34

Luke 24:13-32; Mark 16:12-13

Luke 24:33-49, Mark 16:14, John 20: 19-23

John 20:24-29

Tell the stories of Jesus appearing to the disciples after He is

resurrected.  What is their reaction?  If you had been there,

how would you have felt?  Would you have testified that

He is Risen?  Tell the story of  Aslan and his return back to

Narnia.  What did he tell the children so they could

understand how he came back?

Remembering

Place a statue or picture of the Risen Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ.

This is the culminating part of the whole purpose of our

lessons, to see and feel the spirit of the resurrection. 

Act of Service

What act of service can you do to represent the Risen Lord,

or to thank Him for His undying love for you?

The Garden Tomb - Lesson 10 - Christ's Week of Awe

Lesson 10

The Garden Tomb

Matthew 27: 57-66, Matthew 28: 1-10

Mark 15:42-47, Mark 16: 1-10

Luke 23: 50-56, Luke 24: 1-12

John 19: 38-42, John 20: 1-18

            The Sabbath is growing near, and Jesus' body needs a place to be buried.  If  His body is taken by the Romans to be buried, it becomes the property of the Roman government.  A good man, Joseph of Arimathea, goes to Pilate and asks for the body of the Savior.  Joseph is a member of the Sanhedrin.  Joseph is assisted by Nicodemus who is also a member of the Sanhedrin but they had become true followers of the Savior. Thus Jesus' body is put to rest by His friends.

            “Their first task was to take down the body of Jesus from the cross....It is profoundly sobering to think of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, “two of Jerusalem's most distinguished leaders laboring in the darkening twilight to loosen the shattered remains of their Master from the horrible spikes” (Keller, Rabboni, 280).  That had to have been a ghastly job, considering Jesus' physical appearance, but with love and care these loyal followers prepared his body for burial.  Perhaps they shed many tears.  Who could have performed such a labor and not wept?”  (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p.17)

            “Nicodemus brought a large quantity of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred weight.  The odorous mixture was highly esteemed for anointing and embalming, but its cost restricted its use to the wealthy. These two revering disciples wrapped the Lord's body in clean linen, “with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury;” and then laid it in a new sepulcher, hewn in the rock.”  (Talmage, p.617)  The way that these men prepared the body of Jesus was another symbolic way of showing His kingly role in life and the burial a king would have been given.

            The preparations had to be made quickly, as the Sabbath began at sundown.  The Jewish law required that the condemned were to be buried on the same day as the crucifixion.  There were devoted women, “certain women,” who watched from a distance the preparations the two men from the Sanhedrin were making for Jesus.  

            “On the day following the 'preparation,' that is to say on Saturday, the Sabbath and “high-day,” the chief priests and Pharisees came in a body to Pilate, saying: “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command therefore the the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” (Talmage, p.617-618)  These wicked men remembered what Jesus had prophesied, and wanted to make sure this would not take place. They wanted to insure that someone would not take Jesus body and say that he had risen; rather, they wanted to prove that He would not rise from the dead.  Pilate sent guards to place a seal affixed to the stone, and guard it for the three days. 

            “No site mentioned in scripture has received more attention in Christendom than the Savior's Garden Tomb, even though its exact geographical location is not certain.  Doctrinally, when we speak of the Savior's Garden Tomb, we come full circle to the inauguration of the plan of salvation on this earth, to another garden at the beginning of time, a garden called Eden.  Major events of our Heavenly Father's plan of salvation, or great plan of happiness, have occurred in sacred gardens: the garden of Eden, the garden of Gethsemane, and the garden of the Empty Tomb.  The creation, the Fall, and the Atonement thus become inextricably linked by gardens.  The garden of the burial tomb, the site of Jesus' burial, resurrection, and completed atonement, is tied to the garden of Eden, the place where the Creation was completed and the Fall took place.  Those gardens, in turn, are linked with the garden of Gethsemane, where Christ suffered for all sin, sorrow, and pain resulting from the Fall and where he experienced his greatest suffering.” (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p.19-20)

            Bruce R. McConkie in his last address in General Conference in April 1985, shared his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  He taught in this talk:

            “As we read, ponder, and pray, there will come into our minds a view of the three gardens of God—the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of the Empty Tomb where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

            In Eden we will see all things created in a paradisaical state—without death, without procreation, without probationary experiences.

            We will come to know that such a creation, now unknown to man, was the only way to provide for the Fall.

            We will then see Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, step down from their state of immortal paradisaical glory to become the first moral flesh on earth. 

            Mortality, including as it does procreation and death,will enter the world.  And because of transgression a probationary estate of trial and testing will begin.

            Then in Gethsemane we will see the Son of God ransom man from the temporal and spiritual death that came to us because of the Fall.

            And finally, before an empty tomb, we will come to know that Christ our Lord has burst the bands of death and stand forever triumphant over the grave.

            Thus, Creation is father to the Fall; and by the Fall came mortality and death; and by Christ came immortality and eternal life.  If there had been no fall of Adam, by which cometh death, there could have been no atonement of Christ, by which cometh life.

            And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world.” (“The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” General Conference, April 1985)

            After Jesus took his final breath, his spirit left his body and entered a different realm of existence.  “Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known to me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.” (Alma 40:11)

            It is in the early hours of the morning, at the Garden Tomb, the Jewish Sabbath has passed.  Guards are still at the rock that was rolled to cover the opening of the tomb, and it has been sealed by the Roman guards.  It is early morning, and as the guards are at their watch, there is a violent earthquake.  Two angels come down from heaven, and roll back the huge stone from the opening of the tomb.  The guards are so afraid, they shake uncontrollably and fall to the ground.  God has now shown His power and rolled away the stone.  The guards are afraid, and flee from the tomb, even though they know they could loose their lives for leaving their post. 

            “Early in the morning on the first Easter Sunday, when Jesus took up his physical body again in the Garden Tomb, where it had been placed the previous Friday, the entire universe, all of creation, every earth in the cosmos, every living thing, were changed for eternity.  We do not know the details of the actual resurrection process or what went on inside the Garden Tomb immediately after the resurrection.  We do not know how long Jesus was there.  We do know that Jesus passed through his burial clothes, leaving them lying in place, in the outline and form of the body around which they had been wrapped.  John records this in his account. (John 20:4-7)....Jesus … left his burial clothing in place as one more witness of the greatest of the miraculous acts that compose the Atonement.” (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p.93-94)

            It is still early, still with darkness in the sky, Mary Magdalene and other women are on their way to the tomb.  With them they are carrying the ointments and spices that they had prepared before the sabbath, to finish the burial of their Lord and Master.  These women, “certain women,” have followed Jesus though out his ministry.  They are dedicated and love this Son of Man.  As they travel to the tomb, they are discussing who will roll away the stone from the opening of the tomb. (Mark 16:1-2)

            They arrive at the garden and find the stone already rolled away from the tomb.  At the tomb they see an angel, they are afraid.  The angel then tells them:  “Fear not ye: for I know ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7) I love the dedication of these “certain women,” and their love for Jesus.  What great examples of complete dedication!  “And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.” (Matthew 28:8)

            When they heard the news, Peter and John, ran to the sepulchre.  I love the video “Jesus is Resurrected” that is easily found on the website lds.org, Peter and John are running to the tomb, it is as though we are right there watching this great event.  Truly, we did watch from heaven all of these things as they took place.  They are a very real part of our lives, and this is why all of these events are so familiar to us.  Peter and John see that the Jesus is gone, and leave Mary alone as they go to tell the other disciples. 

            “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.

            And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

            And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

            And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

            Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?  She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

            Jesus saith unto her, Mary.  She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” (John 20:11-16)

            “Uttering Mary's name as only he could, in an intonation that only she would recognize immediately” (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p.114), Jesus touched her heart, and she knew it was her Master.  Can you imagine if it were you standing before the Savior.  What would you have felt, what joy would fill your heart, what love would fill your soul!  Mary was the first person to see the risen, resurrected, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He tells her to “Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.”(John 20:11-17)

            “To a woman, to Mary of Magdalena, was given the honor of being the first among mortals to behold a resurrected Soul, and that Soul, the Lord Jesus. (Talmage, p. 633)  “As to why Mary was privileged to be the first mortal to see the risen Lord, the first Being ever to be resurrected, we are not told.  For that matter, we are not told why all the women to whom the resurrected Savior first appeared were so blessed, but surely it has something to do with the way they cared for the Savior, giving all they had (economically, emotionally, materially, mentally) for him, in life and in death.  There is no doubt that a special relationship existed between Jesus and Mary. (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 115-116)

            Other women “certain women” also had the privilege of the Savior appearing to them. “To these women, the Lord appeared personally and confirmed their hopes and bolstered their believing hearts: 'And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying, All hail.  And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him' (Matthew 29:9).  They were given a personal audience with the Lord and felt the overwhelming desire to worship him.” (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 118)

            In The Mortal Messiah, Bruce R. McConkie teaches us:  “In his own infinite wisdom, Jesus chose to appear to and be handled by a group of other women—all before he came even to Peter and the rest of the Twelve....These other women included Mary the mother of Joses; Joanna, evidently the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward (Luke 8:3); Salome, the mother of James and John.   Among them were women who had been with Jesus in Galilee.  Certainly the beloved sisters from Bethany were there; and, in general, the group would have been made up of the some of the same ones who have hovered in sorrow around the cross.  Their total number may well have been in the dozens or scores.  We know that women in general are more spiritual than men....  But whoever they were, Jesus is using them and the fact of his resurrection to show the unity and oneness and equality of the man and the woman.” (McConkie, B.4, 265-267)

            What a glorious day!  What a glorious day in the history of the world!  What would it have been like to feel, to see, as one of these women did, the resurrected Son of God?

            Like in the beginning of this study,  I am in awe, with “Christ's Week of Awe.”  Our Lord, and Savior is the victor.  Death is swallowed up in victory! 

            While I was attending a funeral of a young mother, my bishop shared this story from Paul Harvey in his comments:

            Nine-year-old Phillip was in a Sunday School class of eight year olds.  He was different.  He had Downs Syndrome with all of its obvious manifestations – face, hands, etc.  This class of eight year olds was cruel – not really intentionally, just kids.

            One Sunday just before Easter, the teacher took plastic eggs to class – the kind you could fill with candy or small toys.  She gave one to each of the nine students and said, “you go out this week and find something that reminds you of Easter.  Put it inside this egg and bring it next week.  We will open them up and see what is inside.”

            The next week, the eggs were given to the teacher and one by one they opened.  One had a flower – oh surely this was a reminder of Easter.  Another – a butterfly, oh yes, truly a reminder.  Another – a rock – the children laughed.  “Not fair,” they cried.  A little boy said, “I knew you'd get a flower and a bug, but I just wanted to be different, so here is my rock.  It reminds me of the rock being rolled away from the tomb.” Oh surely this is a reminder of Easter. 

            When the last egg was opened, it was empty and the class hysterically laughed. Who could be so stupid to have an empty egg?

            There was a tug at the teacher's arm and nine-year-old Phillip said, “That's my egg and it's empty because Christ's gift to me on Easter morning was an empty tomb.”  The laughter now was all gone.  Those Sunday School children never laughed at Phillip again.

            Phillip's parents knew his life would be short – too many complications for one little

person.  Phillip died before the next Easter.  There were many flowers at the funeral, but none from his Sunday School Class – instead there were eight empty eggs.”

            What a wonderful way to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  An empty tomb, an empty egg.

            “The Sunday morning following Friday's crucifixion was the most important Sunday in history and a day of may firsts.  It was the first time mortals had seen a resurrected being.  It was the first time a resurrected being had spoken or been spoken to.  It was the first time a resurrected body had been touched by mortal hands.  It was the first time a Jewish Sabbath or holy day had been overshadowed by a regular week day.  And now it was no longer a “regular” weekday.  It would be memorialized forever as the day when the Lord God of Israel rose from the dead to bring life to all Creation for eternity.  It was the first day that the first witnesses began to spread the news of the first resurrection—the ultimate act in the drama that is the Atonement.” (Skinner, The Garden Tomb, p. 120-121)

The Garden Tomb

Prepare

Matthew 27: 57-66, Matthew 28: 1-10

Mark 15:42-47, Mark 16: 1-10

Luke 23: 50-56, Luke 24: 1-12

John 19: 38-42, John 20: 1-18

Share the story of the resurrection.  Share each of

the things that took place: the earthquake, the soldiers,

the angels, the rolling away of the “large” stone,

the empty tomb, the people that came to see

the tomb, the Savior appearing to women.

Share the meaning of the atonement.

Share the meaning of the three gardens are

and the importance they have to us today.

Remembering

There are many ways to remember as a family

the Garden Tomb.  These are just a few suggestions

you can do as a family.

Leave an empty egg open, with the words

“He is not here, He is risen” inside.

Underneath the egg put a piece of white linen.

Make rolls with marshmallows inside, and when

they come out of the oven, the marshmallow has melted

and it is empty inside.

Watch some of the videos on lds.org about the last

week of the Savior's life.

Display a picture of Jesus and Mary at the tomb.

Act of Service

What act of service can you do that represents the Garden Tomb?